Liner lid for containers



Dec. 14, 1948. s. SHAFFER LINER LID FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 14, 1946 ZZZ 15612011 '15r15c INVENTOR M W HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 14, 1948 TED "1S TAT ES "PATENT O FF 1 CE "LINER moron CONTAINERS QStewart Shaffer, Muncie, Ind. 'nppiicatidn August 14, 1946, Serial N05690509 u 8.Claims.

This invention pertains to closures, and'more particularly, to lids having alinerinsertxfor protectingifood-ior other :contents thereof. :This is acontinuationiin partof my application Serial No. 75,624, ffiled :June 10, 19.46, now abandoned in 1' favor 6f "the :present "application, *and having theisametitle.

:It has been -'customary f in the art toremploy' a metalccaptor lid for'containerswithin the-top :of which a :IinerTof suitable'material, .suchz'asglass, is secured. This may be=accon1plished .by spinning' a locking"flangezinz'side walls'of cap or. lid close enougn'to fthe top Ethiteoffto; securely hold edges :of the .liner .in iabutmentwith ;inner:surface portions Yof theztopioi the cap. Thus, when the cap is "screwed down over :the :operiing'in the container, the inner *faceiof' therliner'will 'iextend across andabo'v-e lip edge portions of the :containeropening.

Although it has'been advantageousito secure thelirier to the .lid to prevent tiits breakage or loss, I have found that :there is ta tendency for bacteria-:to icollect between'the linerzand .the inside f the vclosedcap; this is particularly true, Whereas; isrcustoma'ryithe' closures are;frequentlyre-used. That :is,.I have determined'ithat although the-lidis fitted 'somewhat:securely within the cap, bacteriais able .to enter "between adjacent surfaces.oftheflid-and .theliner. On the other hand, :.a sterilizing agency, such as steam or hot *watenxis preventedrfrom flowing therebetw-een. Even :if ;a suitable sealing material could :be providedsto make allowance for difierences in coefficients rof expansion and contraction .of the liner andjthelid, it wouldrnot bepractical-from an expense endesignstandpoint and would deteriorate -with usage. I

vThus, ithas been -,.an ,objectcoflmy invention .to devise an inexpensive and practical way of meetingthe. above-mentioned problem.

Another -object has been to provide e a new andiimproved type of :closure .or. cap.

KA iurther obiectjhas=been to providea liner and. lid relationship such that closed-off portions therebetween may -be effectively .sterilized .or

cleansed.

A still further ,object has been 1'.'o,.provide .a container caper closure of simpleandinexpensive construction substantiallyv all ofl'whose surface jpor'tion'sinaylbe thoroughly cleansed .or-ste'rilizecl.

fThese'fandmany'o will appear to those 'r'obje'cts ,ofi'niy nventitil ll'e'dfin "the art ffrom the tionaiid' from' tl'ie appii'dedhlaims.

in the drawings:

Figure .12 iszan inside cor bottom 'plan' view -1of :a liner '.constructed in accordance with'my invention;

Fig.52 i573. toptorz-outside-plan view- Oft'the liner of Fig. 1;

.Fig.k3; is a perspectiveplan detail of the liner ofFigs. lrandZ;

,4 is :a cross sectional view taken :alon the line IV-'IV:of:Fig.- 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view'in elevationof theJin-er of-Figsl;

:FigJGrisa topplanview'of a-container having a closure (cap and :liner) constructed in :accordance with my invention in position thereon;

Fig. *7 is wavside'view, partially in section ,of the cap or lid shown in Fig. 6;

Fig 8 .is an enlarged, partially broken away, sectional ielevation taken along line VI'II--VIII ofi'Figffi;

-Fig. ,-9 is :an enlarged :sectional "detail, showing fluid-passageways :or apertures; and c :Figure 10 is :a perspective view in elevation and-apartial section ofamodified form of capor lid .constructed in accordance with my invention.

,Referringrparticularly toFigure 8, Ihaveshown a contain'er l-O ,Ofsuitable material, preierablyof glass ,orpplastic, :provided with a liner l5, preferably .o'fgglass or:plastic,xat :least the inner surfaces of whichaare substantially inert to the proposed nontents -of the container, and a lid or cap element 20,;preferably of :somesuitable flexible material such as-metal. It will be apparent to those skilled: inthe art that the container Ill and the-liner l5 are of suitable material havingsurface portions treated :for .inertness with'respect to the proposed container contents, such as foods, juices-etc. ,The cap 20 may also bemade ;of other.materials,;although from a practical standpoint, I rprefera metal having a suitable'rust resistingcoating, .such as zinc.

.Referringgparticularly to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, I have shownaliner l5 constructed in'accordance with my invention and provided with arim flange portion l5a, one flange side of which is :adapted to vrest upon, .or as rShOWH, in substantially. spaced alignmentwith lipedges l3, see Figure :8, "of the container and the other'flange side of which is adapted'to rest upon an adjacent inside surface portion of the cap 20, and to act as -a. central b gdy spacer therewith. The central b ody portion Hie of the liner is shown asconcave on one side andas convex. onthe other side.

, A her i ar y in Fi ur "a d. the closure cap 20 is'provided with a continuous annular side flange or skirt which depends downwardly in such a manner that its outer edge 20a may abut and slightly spring against a continuous annular flange l2 about outer walls of the container; I have shown a resilient sealing gasketnected by an inwardly sloped portion 200 to an inwardly-open liner-positioning angular portion file. The portion Zlle terminates in top rim portion 25 and a central body portion 20g; the portion 28) abuts the rim Ma and the portion Zlle abuts band l5g of the liner to hold it in position within the cap.

It will be noted that the liner I5 is adaptedto fit within the top portion of the cap or lid 2!] and may be secured thereto when threads 20?) and angular positioning portion 20e are spun. The central body portions Zllf and 28g extend transversely across the opening in the container I to form a cup-shaped cap which may be slightly inwardly oliset at 209. i i

To enable steam, hot water or other sterilizing fluid to be introduced betwen adjacent surface portions of the liner and of the cap, I have shown grooves, passageways, or apertures 15c cut or formed in side edges of the liner l and slots, transverse apertures, passageways, or grooves l5d, connected thereto and extending across one flange face of the rim l5a at spaced locations thereon, see Figure 3. The aligned apertures I50 and lfid may be formed in or cut out of the rim portion l5a.

As shown particularly in Figures 3 and 8, the upper peripheral side edge or band portion I5 I of the liner !5 is inwardly depressed or offset to form a continuous groove, slot, or passageway which connects with the spaced-apartseries of' transverse slots I50 and i511. The cap 20, as shown particularly in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 may also have spaced upwardly-ofiset, inwardly-concave, pressed out, or indented portions 20h that form grooves, passageways, or apertures. Such portions 2th may lie complementary with the slots l5d or may be staggered with respect therewith about the rim a of the liner and are of course, connected to the peripheral aperture 01 passageway provided by the edge band part l5 of the liner. Edge band part or flange portion I5g of the liner is preferably mounted in close adjacency with the cap portion c and flange 45a in close abutment or adjacency with the cap flange or rim portion 20 If desired, the inwardly concave portions 20h may be connected by a continuous peripheral inwardly concave portion 202', as indicated by the perspective view of Figure 10 of the drawings. In this manner, both the liner and the lid may have circular or substantially continuous fluid passageways or apertures which connect with their spaced-apart lateral or transverse passageways or apertures. Asshown, the portion 202' provides a continuous or circular groove along the underside of the annular peripheral rim 20 of the top wall thereof that crosses and is open to the transverse grooves 20h.

It will thus be apparent that when the cap and liner assembly have been removed from the container, cleaning fluid such as steam, hot water, etc., can be bypassed through the aligned liner 4 apertures |5d and I and cap apertures 2072 and along connecting apertures l5 and 202' into the spacing between adjacent central body portions of the cap and liner and back out of opposite apertures to thoroughly cleanse and sterilize adjacent or inner surface portions of the cap and liner and thus remove any bacteria, etc. that has collected or formed th-erebetween. Although I have shown apertures in both the cap and liner, it will be apparent that either one or the other, alone, may be provided with apertures.

Although for the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have chosen a specific embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments may be employed and that substitutions, additions, subtractions and other alterations may be made to the embodiment shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A fully sterilizable closure for an openimouth' container comprising,- a metal cap having a closed-off top wall and a skirt wall integral with said top wall and depending downwardly therefrom, said skirt wall being constructed and .arranged to fit over and securely engage'an outer wall portion of the container adjacent its mouth, said closed off top wall having an annularrim thereabout adjacent its outer periphery, said skirt wall having a spacer wall portion adjacent to said top wall, thev spacer wall portion having a downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus; a liner of a material such as glass that is substantially inert to contents of thecontainer, said liner being constructed and arranged to be securely mounted within said cap to extend along said closed-01f top wall of said cap, said liner having an annular top rim adjacent its outer periphery constructed and arranged to closely abut the annular rim of said top wall of said cap, said liner having a side rim annulus about its outer periphery that is sloped downwardly-inwardly from its annular top rim and is constructed and arranged to be held in close-wedging engagement and abutment with the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of the spacer wall portion of said cap; said lin-er having op'en end side grooves spaced about and extending upwardly across the side rim annulus thereof, said liner having open-end top grooves spaced about the annular top rim thereof and extending transversely thereacross, the openend side grooves of said liner'being connected to and in axial alignment with the open-end top grooves of said liner; said liner having a circular groove about the outer periphery and between the annular top rim and the side rim annulus thereof, said circular groove extending across" the open-end top and side grooves of said liner and being open thereto, all of the grooves in said liner being substantially fully open and spaced inward- 1y from inner adjacent portions 'ofsaid cap when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap with its annular top rim and its side rimannulus'respectively in abutment with the annular rim and the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of said cap, a central portion of said top wall of said cap and a central portion of said liner defining a spacing therebetween when said liner is mounted within said cap; inner ends of,"

the open-end top grooves of said liner being open to the above-mentioned spacing between the central portions of said cap and liner; and all of said grooves being of sufiicient size "and number t'o' freely z'iiushwwashiug new through the sspmcin between ithercentrali portionsiof seiulcap'ianu said liner swhen nthe' vclosure Thas ween :mmoved from theiconta-iner.

1,2 .:Affuilv-sterilisabletolosure for 'an's-onenanoutn j-acent to"said topwvall; "a liner 'having-a surface that is substantiallyf inert to contented: the-eont'ainer; said liner having an annulartop rim-'adabout its "outer periphery, said liner being -'--c'onstructed and 'arra'nged to be securely "mounted within said eap' with its=top"a:nnular-rim irr'clo'se abutment with the annular'rim of 5 the top wall of said cap and with itsside rim annulusinhl'ose abutment with the annular spacer wall portion of the skirt ofsa-id cap; said liner having openendside-groov'es spacedabout"and'extending' upwardlyacross thesicleiim annulusthereof, said liner 3 havingopen end -"top grooves "spaced about the annular "top rim thereof and extending transversely therea'cross, the open-end 'side grooves of saiddiner "being connected to and "in substantial axial alignment with ft'he "open-end top grooves "of said liner ;"the"annular rim or said top wall of saidcap'having open endgroov'eszon an underside thereofthat are'spaced thereabout and "extend "transversely thereacr'oss; said llrir having a -:continuous "groove about the outer periphery and between 'the ia nnular top rim and the 'side rim "annulus "thereof, said continuoiis groove extending across the open-end top and side -grooves of said liner and across Ithe ,openend grooves onthe' underside of said cap and being 'entrant thereto; all of the grooves in said liner being 'substantiallyffully open v andQspaQed inwardly fromiadj acentpoitions rofisaid capand all oithegroovesin said capbeingsubs'tantially fully open and spaced inwardly 'fromla djacent portions of said "liner .when.said liner l-isliin ta mountedrelationship within said reap; said wall 61" said capfhaving a.central portion l0f-out wardly tconcaveaeontour from the annular rim thereabout, said .liner having a centralsportionsof outwardlyleonoave contour from the I annular top rimt'thereabouuladjacent centraLv-portions vof said liner and .of .saidttop'wall \of said leap defining-n spacing therebetween when said: liner. is mounted within .,-sa-id leap, inner endsaof uthesepeneend ftop grooves .ofsaidlinen-and :of the open-end grooves on the underside 'of asaid-z-ca-p beinge'opcn to t me above-mentioned aspacing abet-Ween said Scapand liner; rand-call l-of saidvgroovesbeingsofwsuffi'cient size land being constructedeand arrangedzto fnee ly :fiush washing :flui'd through lthe ispacing libetween the central 9,1i0rtions10ftsaiii capiandrsnid liner when *the a closure "has been rl'emoved 'irom theicontainer.

-3. iA-fullycsterilizablevclosure for ant open mouth container icomprisin'g, 1a metal soap :having iaclosed+top-walliand$a skirt walkintegrakwith*saiel ton wvall :vand :nepending "downwardly ttherefrem, saidnskirt wall .-b'e1ng-.=-eonstnuctediand arran ed-Ito fitwover and securelysengageian "outer (wallsportien of athe rcont'amerzadjacentaltsmouth, semi-eluted offtop wall having. an-siannularmmztnereabounatljaoentzits outernpripherygsmd skirt wallshaiving a:.spacer sviall; portion adjacent. to rs'aiclitop'wa'll, the spacer wall portion f-having ta -downwardlyinwardly oslope'd zannulus a liner of 5 a material-1 such assglasssthataiszsubstantiallyainert to .contents nfitheac'ontainer, said liner being constructedrandfarrange'dto the rsecurely-mountecl within.

said o'ap to'iextendiacrossnsaid .closed ofi topwall ofisaidtcap; .sai'd liner :"hav-ing fianannular' top: rim

adjacentiits outer periphery ;constructed :and are.

ranged to .cclose'ly abut the annular rim=of said topawallnf said ea-p,;saidcliner having arsideiri-m" annulus about its outer p'eripheryithat is'isloned downwardlyflnwardly from its annular top rim and is :constructed rand arranged I to be held in close-wedging =rengagement fa'nd abutment with the :rlownwardlyeinwardlv sloped annulus of the spacer wall. portion oflsaid cap said liner havin open-end-side= groovesispaced about and extend ing vupwardly-:ac1.o'ss the :side' rim annulus thereof zsaid, liner: having open end top grooves'space'd about: the annularttopsrim thereof and extendin transversely thereacross, the grooves izof *saidliner being connected to "and in axial alignmentwith the openeend top grooves of said liner; saidtliner having a circularigroove about theiouteriperiphery and betweenithe annular top. rim" and the side." rim annulus r thereof, said circular groove extending across the openend-top andhside grooves of said liner and-being open vthereto, all' of ithe grooves in said line'nbeing substantially fully open/and spaced inwardly from inner :adjacent'portions .of:"said cap when-said liner is in a mounted :relationship within said cap with itsvannu-lar'ton rim and-its sidelimiannulus respectively in #abutrn'ent with the annular rim and 'thendownwardlydnwa'rdly sloped, an.- nulusof: said-cap, 'aicentral'portion oisai'd top wall of said cap 'and azcentral portion'oi said liner "definingsa spacing therebetween when said liner is-mounted:withinsaid ca-p; inner ends of betweenthecentralportions of said cap and linerwhen the closure has been removecl frorn a container; antitthe annular rim of said cap'beingprovide'd' with a "circular groove along an underside thereor'that extends across'ancl above and is open to the open end-topgrooves ofsaid liner when said iliner is-in-a mounted relationship within said cap.

4.im'fullysterilizable closure for an open mouth container comprising, a metal cap having a closed-oil top wall and-a skirt wall integralwith said top walltand' depending downwardly therefrom,.-'ssaidfskirt wall being constructed and'arranged to fit'over and securely engage an'outer wall' po'rtiomof th'e container-adjacent itsinouth, said cl'ose'd-oiT-top wall "having an annulai-"rim there'about a'dj-ac'ent its outer periphery, sai'd sk-irt' wall having aspacer wall portion adjacent to said it'op wall, the' spacer wall portion having a adown war'dly inwardly -sloped annulus; a liner of 'a material sueh' 'as glass that 'is substantially inert to"'contents-ofthe container, said liner be ing cconstru'cted and "arranged to "be securely mounted-within said cap to extend *along'sai'd closed ofiwop Wall'of said -cap,said liner having anfiannula'r topn im --adj'acen1; its outer periphery rim' of said top wall of 'said ea saidimer having a :sliie rim annulus a/bout its outer-'peribli open en'd side ery that is sloped downwardly-inwardly from its annular top rim and is constructed and arranged to be held in close-wedging engagement and abutment with the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of the spacer wall portion of said cap; said liner having open-end side grooves spaced about and extending upwardly across the side rim annulus thereof, said liner having open-end top grooves spaced about the annular top rim thereof, and extending transversely thereacross, the open-end side grooves of said liner being connected to and in axial alignment with the openend top grooves of said liner; said liner having a circular groove about the outer periphery and between the annular top rim and the side rim annulus thereof, said circular groove extending across the open-end top and side grooves of said liner and being open thereto, all of the grooves in said liner being substantially fully open and spacedinwardly from inner adjacent portions of said cap when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap with its annular top rim and its side rim annulus respectively in abutment with the annular rim and the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of said cap, a central per-- tion of said top wall of said cap and a central portion of said liner defining a spacing therebetween when said liner is mounted within said cap; inner ends of the open-end top grooves of said liner being open to the above-mentioned spacing between the central portions of said cap and liner; all of said grooves being of sufiicient sizev and number to freely flush washing fluid through the spacing between the central portions of said cap and liner when the closure has been removed from the container; the annular top of said cap being provided on its underside with open-end bottom grooves that extend transversely thereacross and are substantially fully open and entrant to the circular groove about said liner and to the spacing be tween the central portions of said cap and said liner when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap, said open-end bottom grooves of said cap being constructed and arranged to provide an increased flow of washing fluid to the spacing between the central portions of said cap and said liner when the closure has been removed from the container.

5. A fully sterilizable closure for an open mouth container comprising, a metal cap having a closed-off top wall and a skirt wall integral with said top wall and depending downwardly therefrom, said skirt wall being constructed and arranged to fit over and securely engage an outer wall portion of the container adjacent its mouth, said closed-oil top wall having an annular rim thereabout adjacent its outer periphery, said skirt wall having a spacer wall portion adjacent to said top wall, the spacer wall portion having a downwarly-inwardly sloped annulus, a liner of a material such as glass that is substantially inert to contents of the container, said liner being con-- structed and arranged to be securely mounted within said cap to extend along saidclosed-olT top Wall of cap, said liner having an annular top rim adajacent its outer periphery constructed and arranged to closely abut the annular rim of said top wall of said cap, said liner having a side rim annulus about its outer periphery that is sloped downwardly-inward1y from its annular top rim and is constructed and arranged to be held in close-wedging engagement and abutment with the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of the spacer wall portion of said cap; said liner havingopen-end side grooves spaced about and extendaxial alignement with the open-end top grooves of said liner; said liner having a circular groove about the outer periphery and between the annular top rim and the side rim annulus thereof, said circular groove extending across the openend top and side grooves of said liner and beingopen thereto, all of the grooves in said liner being substantially fully open and spaced inwardly from inner adjacent portions of said cap when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap with-its annular top rim and its side rimannulus respectively in abutment with the annular rim and the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of said cap, a central portion of said top wall of said cap and a central portion of said liner defining a spacing therebetween when said liner is mounted within said cap; inner ends of the open-end top grooves of said liner being open to the above-mentioned spacing between the central portionsof said cap and liner; all of said grooves being of sufficient size and number to freely flush washing fluid through. the spacing between the central portions of saidcap and liner when the closure has been removed from the container; the

annular rim. of said cap being Provided with a circular groove along the underside thereof that extends across and is open to the open-end top grooves of said liner when said liner is. in a mounted relationship within said cap.

6. A fully sterilizable closure for an open mouth container comprising, a metal cap having a closed-off top wall and a skirt wall integral with said top wall and depending downwardly therefrom, said skirt wall being constructed and arranged to fit over and securely engage an outer wall portion of the container adjacent its mouth, said closed-01f top wall having an annular rim thereabout adjacentits outer periphery, said skirt Wall having a spacer wall portion adjacent to said top wall, the spacerwall portion having a downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus; a liner of a material such as glass that is substantially inert to contents of the container, said liner being constructed and arranged to be securely mounted within said cap to extend along said closed-ofi top wall of said cap, said liner having an annular top rim adjacent its outer periphery constructed and arranged to closely abut the annular rim of said top wall of said cap, said liner having a side rim annulus about its outer periphery that is sloped downwardly-inwardly from its annular top rim and is constructed and arranged to be held in close-wedging engagement and abutment with thedownwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of the spacer wall portion of said cap; said liner having open-end side grooves spaced about and extending upwardly across the side rim annulus thereof, said liner having open-end top grooves spaced about the annular top rim thereof and extending transversely thereacross, the open-end side grooves of said liner being connected to and in axial alignment with the open-end top'grooves of said liner; said liner having a circular groove about the outer. periphery and between the annular top rim and the side rim annulus thereof, said circular groove extending across the open end top and side grooves of said liner and being open thereto, all of the grooves in said liner beingsubstantially fully open "and spaced inwardlyfrom inner adjacent portion of said cap when tothe above-mentionedspacing between'tlie'central portions of said cap and liner; all of said grooves being of sufficient size and number to freely flush washing fluid through thespacing between the central portions of said cap and liner when the closure has been removed from th container; the annular top rim of said cap being provided on its underside with open-end bottom grooves that extend transversely thereacross and are substantially fully open and entrant to the circular groove about said liner and the spacing between the central portions of said cap and said liner when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap, the annular rim of said cap being provided with a circular groove along the underside thereof that extends across and is open to the open-end bottom grooves of said cap; and, said open-end bottom grooves being constructed and arranged to provide an increased flow of washing fluid to the spacing between the central portions of said cap and said liner when the closure has been removed from the container.

'7. A fully sterilizable closure for an open mouth container comprising, a metal cap having a closed-01f top wall and a skirt wall integral with said top wall and depending downwardly therefrom, said skirt wall being constructed and arranged to fit over and securely engage an outer wall portion of the container adjacent its mouth, said closed-off top wall having an annular rim thereabout adjacent its outer periphery, said skirt wall having a spacer wall portion adjacent to said top wall, the spacer wall portion having a downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus; a liner of a material such as glass that is substantially inert to contents of the container, said liner being constructed and arranged to be securely mounted within said cap to extend along said closed-off top Wall of said cap, said liner having an annular top rim adjacent its outer periphery constructed and arranged to closely abut the annular rim. of said top wall of said cap, said liner having a side rim annulus about its outer periphery that is sloped downwardlyinwardly from its annular top rim and is constructed and arranged to be held in closewedging engagement and abutment with the downwardly-inwardly sloped annulus of the spacer wall portion of said cap; said liner having open-end side grooves spaced about and extending upwardly across the side rim annulus thereof, said liner having open-end top grooves spaced about the annular top rim thereof and extending transversely thereacross, the open-end side grooves of said liner being connected to and in axial alignment with the open-end top grooves of said liner; said liner having a circular groove about the outer periphery and between the annular top rim and the side rim annulus thereof, said circular groove extending across the openend top and side grooves of said liner and being open thereto, all of the grooves in said liner being substantially fully open and spaced inwardly from inner adjacent portions of said cap when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap with its annular top rim and its side rim 1D annulus =respectively: in" abutment with" the: annularc rims" andi the downwardly-inwardlw sloped annulus. of said;- cap, as central; portion: of said top iwall :of said capaand-axcentral portionlofesaid linersdefining:v a; spacing thereb'etween when: .said

betweentthe; central portionist oft said: cap and liner when the closure has beenhremoved, from the container; the annular top rim of said cap being provided on its underside with open-end bottom. grooves that extend transversely thereacross and are substantiall full open and entrant to the circular groove about said liner and to the spacing between the central portions of said cap and said liner when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap, said openend bottom grooves of said cap being in a substantially axially aligned relationship with respect to the top grooves of said liner when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap, and said open-end bottom grooves being constructed and arranged to provide an increased flow of washing fluid to the spacing between the central portions of said cap and said liner when the closure has been removed from the container.

8. A fully sterilizable closure for an open-mouth container comprising, a metal cap having a closed-off top wall and a skirt wall integral with said top wall and depending downwardly therefrom, said skirt wall being constructed and arranged to fit over and securely engage an outer wall portion of the container adjacent its mouth, said closed-off top wall having an annular rim thereabout adjacent its outer periphery, said skirt wall having a spacer wall portion adjacent said top wall; a liner having a surface that is substantially inert to contents of the container, said liner having an annular top rim adjacet its outer periphery and a side rim annulus about its outer periphery, said liner being constructed and arranged to be securely mounted within said cap with its top rim annulus in close abutment with the annular spacer wall portion of the skirt of said cap; said liner having open-end side grooves spaced about and extending across the side rim annulus thereof, said liner having open end top grooves spaced about the annular top rim thereof and extending transversely thereacross, said liner having a substantially continuous groove about its outer periphery and between the annular top rim and the side rim annulus thereof, the open-end side grooves and the open-end top grooves of said liner being entrant at one end to the continuous groove of said liner; the annular rim of said top Wall of said cap having open-end grooves on an underside thereof that are spaced thereabout and extend transversely thereacross; the grooves in said liner being substantiall fully open and spaced inwardly from adjacent portions of said cap and the grooves in said cap being substantially fully open and spaced inwardly from adjacent portions of said liner when said liner is in a mounted relationship within said cap; said liner having a central portion of outwardly-concave contour from the annular top rim thereabout, adjacent central portions of said liner and of said top wall of said cap defining spacing thereabout when said liner is mounted within said cap, inner ends of the open-end top grooves of said liner and of the open-end top grooves of the underside of said cap being open to the above-mentioned spacing between said cap and said liner; and, all of said grooves being of sufficient size and being constructed and arranged to freely flush washing fiuid through the spacing between the central portions of said cap and said liner when the closure has been removed from the container.

STEWART SHAFFER.

REFERENCES CITED Number 12 I I n UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Name Date Somerville July 20, 1886 Gibbs Mar. 3, 1936 Vinson Sept. 3, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS I Country Date Number 7 Germany Jan. 22, 1936 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,456,607. December 14, 1948.

STEWART SHAFFER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 28, for betwen read between; column 5, line 70, claim 3, for the hyphenated word closed-top read closed-01? top; column 10, line 43, claim 8, for adj acet read adjacent;

the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of April, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommissz'oner of Patents. 

